Nick Garland Posted July 30, 2007 Report Share Posted July 30, 2007 As a lot of people have said its not a dying sport but it will need to get some recognition soon from the mass media or it might start to die.Look at bmx and skateboarding, top names like Tony Hawks and Dave Mirra, say those to most people or even mention skaing or bmxing and they have heard of it, mainly due to mass media. Say someone like Vinvent Hermance or trials riding, and they all go "eh?".Just needs some more coverage or some high profile competitions broadcast so the world begins to understand the sport. It is still a very new sport and is growing but its not dying yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boon racoon Posted July 30, 2007 Report Share Posted July 30, 2007 See this http://www.trials-forum.co.uk/forum/index....t&p=1305458 for my opinion on things comparing old and new...There used to be 6 or 7 riders in my town, who made up the old "Nailseatrials" lot. For whatever reasons, now there's just me So perhaps it is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lil Jsy Chris Posted July 30, 2007 Report Share Posted July 30, 2007 I would say the opposite, I think trials is becoming much more popular and the standard of riding is getting better. Also there are always people coming to trials forum that have just started riding.Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy d Posted July 30, 2007 Report Share Posted July 30, 2007 It seems to me that it's getting bigger but not necessarily getting better? There are an awful lot of people who just do TGS riding, and to me that misses out what's good in trials. On the other hand there are still people interested in riding the way that I like to and I think there always will be so I'm not worried.I'm just trying to work out if the number of riders around where I live has increased or decreased... I think it might be less actually. Hmmm... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T.McMillan Posted July 30, 2007 Report Share Posted July 30, 2007 (edited) the kamikaze championship is a dying sporthar har harlove it partz,new sport, it gives me an adrenaline rush, not a by a huge amount, speed gives me adrenaline like waynio's comment, i want to have a go someday, sounds sick going to fort william and having a go, Edited July 30, 2007 by speedyjustice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavyn. Posted July 30, 2007 Report Share Posted July 30, 2007 (edited) for the people that say "well what sort of a sport gives you an adrenaline rush"if any of you get chance to go to fort william and take a decent DH bike and £20.00 for a days uplift, id really advise you do it, i did the thursday before the fort william cup and i can honestly say it was the best thing iv done all year. hitting things with such speed, or turning SOOOO quickly into 90 degree bends and stuff.its mind blowing, i dont seem to get an adrenalin rush like that out of trials but i feel the technical stuff in trials is good and balance etc makes trials very interesting.Wayne.I did that too it was amazing incredibly fast and rough the times steve peat and the likes put in are rediculus.Martyns right though most riders were once annoying little kids and for a sport our size any publicity is good publicity i'm quite happy to teach any "13 year old chav" on any bike every thing that I can because it'll benifit the sport in the futureSaying that people who just stand around getting in other peoples way piss me off to the max. I'm all for new riders who try things and use any advice older riders give them, but ones who just stand there and get in the way and won't take any help when you offer it to them or any encouragement for that matter, they annoy me, especially when the're sitting on a brand new £1000 bike that someone else who would use to its potential really wants but can't get it or afford it. Edited July 30, 2007 by Gavyn L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krisboats Posted July 30, 2007 Report Share Posted July 30, 2007 I did that too it was amazing incredibly fast and rough the times steve peat and the likes put in are rediculus.Martyns right though most riders were once annoying little kids and for a sport our size any publicity is good publicity i'm quite happy to teach any "13 year old chav" on any bike every thing that I can because it'll benifit the sport in the futureSaying that people who just stand around getting in other peoples way piss me off to the max. I'm all for new riders who try things and use any advice older riders give them, but ones who just stand there and get in the way and won't take any help when you offer it to them or any encouragement for that matter, they annoy me, especially when the're sitting on a brand new £1000 bike that someone else who would use to its potential really wants but can't get it or afford it.Thats the problem with the article though, martyn didn't seem to distinguish between the actual people we were describing and EVERY beginner rider. Instead we get made out to be a forum full of mean, frustrated cynics and how we are really "just some tit on a bike". Obviously ending with Martyns moral high ground ending sentence. I wonder if that article actually caused a reader to get the wrong impression of the forum and as a result they'll never come on here? Don't get me wrong, there probably was a couple of people who came out with a short comment like "yeah i hate kids, they piss me off". But the majority of us were having a discussion and expressing views and opinions... which is what i believe is supposed to be the entire point of a forum. Fair enough if he'd put a link to the actual thread so viewers could make up their own mind, but having nothing except his misinterpreted evaluation of what we were talking about kind of paints us in an uneccessarily bad light. I don't think i've ever seen a rider just comepletely ignore a beginner when they've genuinely asked for advice, or even a rider to take the piss out of them instead of helping. I know i've tried to help a few people with their riding while we've been out and i nearly always try and give pointers even to those who seem competant enough already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hurman Posted July 30, 2007 Report Share Posted July 30, 2007 I have just had a superb evening riding up at a local spot and have had the good fortune to be given some one to one training by a world class rider. All my trials riding life I have struggled to carry out a good clean technique when doing gaps, even small ones less than a bikes length. But tonight this guy gave me a bit of time and demonstrated how it should be done. I had tried it earlier and made a real hash of it infront of a few curious onlookers :$ but after watching him I felt more confident and gave it another whirl.As many of you will know the feeling you get from conquering a move you have struggled with for minutes, hours, days or even years is difficult to describe but it gives you a high in a different way to an adrenalin rush but it lives with you for much longer. Although I say it myself I carried out a superb gap between two rocks and landed smoothly and under control A simple move but one I have struggled with. I am 38 years old and have seen trials evolve from the days of modified mountainbike frames to todays hi tech frames and accessories.New technology, cheaper manufacturing techniques and a growing interest from main-stream manufacturers in different niches in the biking world can only see this sport grow. The club I am involved with up here in Yorkshire has on average 8 entries per trial in its beginners class (6 - 10 years of age.) All of them ride the small Monty 205 and all of them are good riders and can see what they can achieve as they queue for their turn and watch the novice, intermediate, expert and elite riders ride the sections. I don't remember this many young people riding 10 years ago so this gives an indication of how things may go. Motorbike trials used to be the only route but that is expensive and out of the question physically until the youngsters grow a bit, bike trials is an ideal sport that fills the gap for many parents regardless of how much cash they do or don't have.Trials is a great sport and has many characters running and supporting events. Like all sports it could do with a bit more publicity but that is down to every person on this forum to seek out and grab. As mentioned earlier in this thread, demonstrations at local galas or fairs is a great way to show people what can be done on a bike and to get them thinking about a different way of using their bike or a different hobby for their offspring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krisboats Posted July 30, 2007 Report Share Posted July 30, 2007 As mentioned earlier in this thread, demonstrations at local galas or fairs is a great way to show people what can be done on a bike and to get them thinking about a different way of using their bike or a different hobby for their offspring. Too true. Plus it can be really good fun "showing off" in front of a load of people and you seem to give it just that little bit more to impress, resulting in better riding and a better vibe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanie-b Posted July 31, 2007 Report Share Posted July 31, 2007 Just a tit on a bike?I can appreciate what Ashton is trying to say, but I thinks he's gone about it all wrong in that article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaRtZ Posted July 31, 2007 Report Share Posted July 31, 2007 (edited) Just out of curiosity when exactly was that thread? Because if its the one i'm thinking of i'm pretty sure people were talking about how the new riders who get everything paid for by mum and dad, who can't ride, constantly come out with crap/misbehave at rides then give up soon after realising trials isn't for them and how they are not the sort of people who progress into the sport. We also touched on how we thought they lost a certain pride and connection you have with the bike if you work hard for your money and build it yourself, rather than picking a load of shiny coloured bits off the tarty site and forward the bill to mummy and daddy. We were talking about the appreciation and the determination of seeing it through and how we felt sorry for those that would never know this.I don't mean to take this off topic but if thats the thread he read i think he got his wires crossed soemwhere along the lines and didn't read what was being said. I know i wrote something similar to the above because its what i believe, its my opinion. I do feel sorry for those who never experience that connection with the sport because they expect it all to come so easily. On a side note (and this is just completely hypothetical here) i wonder if martyns column would have been read/remembered by quite as many people if it wasn't a shocking story about how stupid the guys on trials forum are and how we want to keep the sport to ourselves? Of course i'm just spitballing here... not suggesting anything am i ?That thread kris was this one by davetrials, he may have been drunk when he posted it...Again Im not saying anything incase I get blacklisted in mbuk. Im already blacklisted in "angling monthly" ...I agree deanie, Ashton has got a good point, why shouldn't we teach the next generation like we were taught ourselves? But hes twisted that topic around saying that we shouldn't and let them just fail. If the newbies want me to give advice ill give it them. But if they just want to sit around and look cool then how can I make them sidehop higher, gap bigger etc? Edited July 31, 2007 by PaRtZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abtrials Posted July 31, 2007 Report Share Posted July 31, 2007 trials is massive now compaired to what it was 4 years ago, back then you could count all the decent uk riders on one hand now you would need to make a list and you would still forget people!also so many riders who gave up are comming back, its just an awesome sport and if you can not get a rush from it RIDE HARDER! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christophe' Posted July 31, 2007 Report Share Posted July 31, 2007 trials is massive now compaired to what it was 4 years ago, back then you could count all the decent uk riders on one hand now you would need to make a list and you would still forget people!also so many riders who gave up are comming back, its just an awesome sport and if you can not get a rush from it RIDE HARDER!Agreed my man.Trials is awesome and there are not limits to its creativty.The thinking mans BMX. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waynio Posted July 31, 2007 Report Share Posted July 31, 2007 i think martyn tried to get across the "help anyone for nothing" kind of response, OK i do know alot of people may feel that its the annoying "chav" riders that are spoiling it by damaging things, but dont forget one thing!!!!"you were once like this yourself" OK not a chav BUT this has come with evolution, the world is always changing and evolving, better things await those who do their best and try their hardest.I was out last night and i feel that i would sacrifice my "masters" status at the worlds JUST to become a "trials trainer" to help others in the sport who are good BUT just need that extra push or that extra bit of knowledge of "how to do something" express the way to do it, body movement etc. i feel like this through what i have gone through the last 4/5 months against UK Bike trial.i would still be getting what i want out of it, id still ride myself but wouldnt have the in convenience of having to worry about someone being picky and pokey at what i say or do, or try punnish me for my opinion etc. (martyns column again is PURELY his opinion on the matter )Wayne. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krisboats Posted July 31, 2007 Report Share Posted July 31, 2007 That thread kris was this one by davetrials, he may have been drunk when he posted it...Again Im not saying anything incase I get blacklisted in mbuk. Im already blacklisted in "angling monthly" ...I agree deanie, Ashton has got a good point, why shouldn't we teach the next generation like we were taught ourselves? But hes twisted that topic around saying that we shouldn't and let them just fail. If the newbies want me to give advice ill give it them. But if they just want to sit around and look cool then how can I make them sidehop higher, gap bigger etc?Thats the topic i thought he meant, and whilst i thought there were more "helpful" replies i still think martyns misread what was said as most people seem to have said they found the ones who didn't take help, had amazing bikes and were gobby little shits that were annoying, which i think is fair enough to be honest. But then that is a specific example of a type of person, not beginner riders collectively... we in no way generalised to the extent where all beginners are annoying like he says we did. I don't know what being blacklisted really entails but you shouldn't have to be worried about expressing your opinion because of it. Fact of the matter is if that IS the article he was refferring to then he's written complete shite in his MBUK article. I personally think he's been quite ironic in what he's written to be honest with the way he complains about riders pushing beginners away, when he's doing the same thing in making out as if trials forum is such a bad place. The amount of good things on here with regards to rides, information, parts for sale and general banter far overwhelms some small comments inconsiderate members may make. But in making out we're just arrogant tits on this forum its the beginners who lose out by not coming here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash-Kennard Posted July 31, 2007 Report Share Posted July 31, 2007 (edited) he's written complete shite in his MBUK article.when doesnt he?EDIT: and oh my god, he wasnt referring to me, i didnt even post in that topic, yay Edited July 31, 2007 by ash-kennard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonMack Posted July 31, 2007 Report Share Posted July 31, 2007 See this http://www.trials-forum.co.uk/forum/index....t&p=1305458 for my opinion on things comparing old and new...There used to be 6 or 7 riders in my town, who made up the old "Nailseatrials" lot. For whatever reasons, now there's just me So perhaps it is?That's because Nailsea is gay. Weston *** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-Stop Junkie Posted August 2, 2007 Report Share Posted August 2, 2007 Is trials dying? Wow, big question. And the answer is a totally ambiguous yes... and no.Compared to five years ago, it is much lower profile, there is not nearly as much media coverage and competition attendances are down. The Bike show stands arn't packed to the rafters, and riders arn't asked for autographs at competitions. We haven't had a Bike Battle event or similar since 2003.For those who said we have better bikes and higher standards of riding now, I'd certainly agree, but we have less riders. Maybe not the forum loving hardcore types, but less riders overall, some have grown out of trials while others have moved onto street or freeride just like in the US. Don't forget there have been rider-owned companies for years, going back to Cleanbikes, NSE, X-Street and Goatwheels.I think what has happened is that trials has suffered from a lack of people getting into the mainstream. Back in 1994 Martyn and Martin really made themselves marketable and got trials into the media through inventivness and creativity. People now either lack that drive, purposely don't court attention or don't know how to get publicity for themselves, and as a result trials has shrunk in the cycling conciousness. At the same time, trials - in the UK at least - has retreated into TF. People don't make sites like they used to, and there seems to be a real lack of anything getting into the magazines. We've got a firm foundation in TF, but at the same time we're inward looking. Companies announce things on here, riders show off to other riders and it's all done for free (or almost free, compare the TF ad rates to the same exposure in MBUK...) We're rarely promoting the sport to other cyclists anymore, and this is bad because it's from that pool that we get most of our riders, parts and competitions. I couldn't care less if Jo Public knows what trials is, but if we could have the same standing in cycling and mototrials has amongst bikers, we'd be in a damn sight better position! But at the same time, this consolidation has given us a very solid core to build on. There is a hardcore of manufacturers who focus on trials and won't jump ship when the next fad comes along, we have a strong group of riders and a sense of community. We also seem to have more trials demos going on in public than I can remember before, which is excellent. We need to be pushing the message across though, this isn't trick riding, this is trials. It's not about learning one or two tricks - like a tap, gap or sidehop - but linking them together and finding lines.Most of all, we need riders willing to go out and get coverage, to put the message across about what trials is, and show we're not just one trick ponies - pun intended. Without that, we'll always be a small group on the fringe, comparing CNC'd yokes and discussing what to smear on your rims to help braking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard jersey Posted August 3, 2007 Report Share Posted August 3, 2007 Trials is becoming more and more popular and there are more riders now than before! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben_travis Posted August 3, 2007 Report Share Posted August 3, 2007 Chris's PostMost, honest, believable and honest post on this thread.Seriously, people need to read chris's post and read it thoroughly. Its so true Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abtrials Posted August 3, 2007 Report Share Posted August 3, 2007 Also on this subject trials has even made it and is making appearances on TV now that never happened a few years back!I remember riding 5 years ago (before I quit to come back 18 months ago) how is that done and thinking it was amazing, then when I came back I was blown away by the progression trials has made and the riding of some people and again thinking there is no way I can do any of that, but 18 months on im doing most of it and im still crap because its still progressing so much.Well I hope that gets my point across?Trials has only just started, it is no way near dying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Bleech Posted August 3, 2007 Report Share Posted August 3, 2007 Also on this subject trials has even made it and is making appearances on TV now that never happened a few years back!Yes it did! It was on channel 5, can't remember the name of the show and it was also on BBC2 'Radical High' at 7pm ish! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-Stop Junkie Posted August 3, 2007 Report Share Posted August 3, 2007 Also on this subject trials has even made it and is making appearances on TV now that never happened a few years back!Trials has only just started, it is no way near dying.There was trials on TV 5 years ago, I remember the Martins on Record Breakers and Blue Peter, not to mention Radical Highs which is the TV slot trials has ever had. Let's be honest,TVis hardly awash with trials now...Trials is hardly a new sport. It's been around since the early eighties, and in MBUK since 1994.Yes it did! It was on channel 5, can't remember the name of the showUnder Pressure. Trials was the feature event in four shows, and made a star of Dave Marshall Trials is becoming more and more popular and there are more riders now than before!I think TF skews this view somewhat. You are aware of more riders now because they're here. Plus some people quote how many members there are on here, but it doesn't really reflect how many members are now part or non-riders and just stay here for fun.I'd stick my neck out and say there are the same or fewer riders now than in 2000ish but a higher percentage are on here now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abtrials Posted August 3, 2007 Report Share Posted August 3, 2007 There was trials on TV 5 years ago, I remember the Martins on Record Breakers and Blue Peter, not to mention Radical Highs which is the TV slot trials has ever had. Let's be honest,TVis hardly awash with trials now...Trials is hardly a new sport. It's been around since the early eighties, and in MBUK since 1994.Under Pressure. Trials was the feature event in four shows, and made a star of Dave Marshall well i mean people other than the top riders are making tv apearances, videos news paper articles etc..... also so many people around towns and stuff know what trials is its made its name (thanks to the likes of the martins!)and i know its not a new sport i meat it is only just getting started as in its not hit its high yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-Stop Junkie Posted August 3, 2007 Report Share Posted August 3, 2007 i know its not a new sport i meat it is only just getting started as in its not hit its high yet?Get a copy of contact and watch the speed trials from Bike 2000, and compare that with bike shows now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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